Forest School Leader Training

Forest School is a unique way of building independence, self-esteem and a positive attitude towards learning in children and young people as they explore and experience the natural world for themselves. A combination of freedom and responsibility is beneficial to children with little confidence or challenging behaviour. Valuable life skills are learnt - communication, team working and responsibility.

Forest School is a long term sustainable way of learning. It celebrates each individual child's talents and is a unique way of building independence, self-esteem and a positive attitude towards learning.

Why is Forest School good for all?:

Beneficial for those who learn by 'doing'

Children and people involved in Forest School become more responsible for their actions, can calculate risks better and show improved self-confidence.

A desire for learning is encouraged and transferred back to the classroom

Forest Schools encourage children and people to become more active and healthy

Children / Young Adults/ vulnerable adults develop self-awareness

Develop better communication skills

Develop independence

And much more!

Want to get involved? Why not its fun!

Cookley Sebright Primary School is hosting two levels of forest school training during May and June 2020. If you are thinking of running a Forest School programme then you need to complete the OCN Level 3 Certificate in Leading Forest School.

The qualification you need if you want to deliver Forest School sessions.

The training comprises eight days of training with tutor contact time. These days are a mixture of practical and classroom based study. Students then have nine months to complete a portfolio of work which is expected to take approximately 120 hours of self-directed study.

Unit 1: Supporting Learning, Play and Development in the Outdoors; Covering the understanding of learning, play and development in the outdoors. Holistic learning, play, self-esteem and emotional intelligence.

Unit 2:Forest School Leader; Looking at the details involved with leadership of Forest School programmes linked to child development, including health and safety, risk assessment, programme planning and session delivery.

Unit 3: Observation and Evaluation of Outdoor Learning; enabling the group leader to use assessment and evaluation techniques linked to child development.

Unit 4: Sustainable use of Natural Resources; Looking at understanding ecology and use of sustainable use of natural resources for learning. Identification of local species, simple site management, sustainability of natural resources and spaces.

Unit 5: Teaching Outdoor Practical Skills; to enable the group leader to teach safe practical skills and campfire management. Teaching the safe use of small hand tools, using a campfire to cook on, using knots.

Criteria:

You need to be over the age of 21.

You will need to identify a natural site you can use - This could be the corner edge of your school field, the old redundant nature area, the council allotment, a woody area. There is lots of successful Forest School programs that take place in the smallest of spaces (Sometimes with no trees.) Do not let the size or state of your space put you off. There is opportunities anywhere!

This training is aimed at those already assisting at a forest school and would like to have an assistant qualification.

This course covers four Units of Study at Level 2 and looks in more depth at practical skills, using the woodland as a sustainable resource and the theoretical side of planning for learning and play at Forest School. These Units are: